JPS6052361B2 - upright tape measure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an upright measuring tape that maintains its straightness even when the drawer length increases.

Some tape measures are made of metal and have a curvature in the direction perpendicular to the winding direction, that is, in the width direction of the tape, so that the tape remains straight up to a certain length during use.

The length that this type of tape measure can remain straight is usually only a few tens of centimeters. For this reason, set the width of the tape measure to 25w.
There is a commercially available product which is widened to about m and has a slightly increased material thickness, and has an arcuate cross section with a curvature of about 26φ relative to the width. This tape measure stays straight for more than 1 meter, but
The disadvantage is that the tape measure is proportionally larger and heavier. The present invention was made based on the experience described above, and its purpose is to provide an upright tape measure that can maintain its straightness even when the drawer length becomes large, such as 3 m, 5 m, and 7 m. It is in.

Maintaining straightness over such a long drawer length is obviously impossible with measures such as widening the conventional tape measure or simply changing the material as described above.
In contrast, the inventor solved the problem by creating a tape measure with a three-dimensional structure in which the cross section in the width direction consists of a curved part and a flat plate part of half the circumference or more. Generally, the tape measure is made of organic synthetic resin, steel, invar, etc. Although these materials can be used in the tape measure of the present invention, metal materials such as stainless steel, spring steel, and phosphor bronze are particularly preferred. Formation of a cross-sectional shape in the width direction consisting of a curved plate part and a flat plate part,
In particular, the curved plate portion is preferably formed by roll forming, which allows accurate forming of a tape measure material that is very thin and extremely narrow in width relative to its length. Accurately shaping the curved plate means preventing the tape measure from twisting during use, which is an important performance required of a tape measure. The tape measure obtained from the above is
To maintain a straight shape without twisting even when the drawer length becomes long, even though the material thickness can be made thinner than a conventional tape measure. Further, embodiments of an upright tape measure according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the entire body of the upright tape measure of the present invention, ie, the monthly salary 1 mentioned above.

The monthly salary 1 has a cross-sectional shape in the width direction that integrally includes a curved plate part 2 that forms an arc shape of a semicircle or more when no external force is applied, and a flat plate part 3 that is flat in a similar natural state. It is also composed of The length body of this embodiment is made of the various materials mentioned above, preferably a thin tape-shaped metal material (for example, stainless steel with a thickness of several hundred microns, etc.), and the curved plate is formed by roll-forming this tape-shaped metal material. form 2.

The cross-sectional shape of the length in the width direction of this embodiment is a J-shape in which a curved plate part 2 located on one side in the longitudinal direction and a flat plate part 3 located in the tangential direction of the end edge 2a are integrated. (Figure 2)
It is. However, the curved plate portion 2 only needs to have an arc shape of a semicircle or more, preferably a semicircle or more and a double circle or less. Second
The cross-sectional shape of the length body 1 in the width direction is illustrated in FIGS. The reason why the arc shape is set to be more than half a circle and less than two times is the result of experimental research and has determined that this is an appropriate range for maintaining the straight shape intended by the present invention. Further, FIG. 5 shows an example of a measuring tape 11 having a different cross-sectional shape in the width direction and constituting the tape measure of the present invention.

This length body 11 has a curved plate part 2 and a flat plate part 3 formed separately,
The center of the symmetrical cross-sectional shape of the curved plate part 12 and the center of the flat plate part 13 are joined together to form an integral whole. The cross-sectional shape in the width direction as described above can all be provided by continuous forming using a roll forming machine.

An example of the roll forming method will be explained with reference to FIG. 6. 6th
In the case of the example shown in the figure, a pair of forming rolls 10, 1'' are used as a set, and a multi-stage forming hole in which the shape of the gap between the rolls is gradually changed from a straight line to a J-shape is used to form a fixed width. The tape-shaped metal material (dashed line 101) is plastically deformed into a final J-shaped cross-sectional shape 10j through intermediate forming stages 10 and -1 shown by solid lines. In this roll forming step, the length may be subjected to heat treatment if necessary. In this way, scales 5 for length measurement are formed on the length bodies 1 and 11, each of which has a cross-sectional shape that integrally includes a curved plate portion and a flat plate portion.

The scale is preferably formed along the longitudinal direction on one or both sides of the flat plate portions 3, 13, or at corresponding locations on the front and back surfaces. However, it goes without saying that the scale 5 or other marks may be provided on the track board portions 2 and 12. The ulnar bodies 1 and 11 are curved plate parts 2
, 12 and the flat plate portions 3, 13, when wound onto the winding frame 20 as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 8, the curved plate portion is opened flat by winding. 2,12
A repulsive force is accumulated that causes the material to return to its original roll-formed shape.

For this reason, the means for winding up the lengths 1 and 11 has a torque capable of resisting the repulsive force, and the mainspring 21 as a winding means that generates the torque for winding up the lengths is attached to the winding frame 20.
It is built into. Instead of this mainspring, a wound spring such as a constant force spring can be used. FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate cross-sectional views of a tape measure device A incorporating a tape measure according to the present invention, and the winding means and structure will be explained using these figures.

In the ulnar body (1 in this case), the curved plate part 2 is on the outside (or inside)
Wrap it around the winding frame 20 so that it faces.

At this time, there is no need to add a curl in the longitudinal direction of the shaku body. The winding frame 20 with the measuring tape wound thereon is mounted on the tape measure case 30 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 31, and the rotation of the winding frame 20 is controlled by the mainspring 21. That is, the inner end of the body 1 is fixed to the outer end of the mainspring 21, and the inner end of the mainspring 21 is fixed to the shaft 31. In this way, the winding torque of the mainspring 21 is made to oppose the extension torque (repulsive force) of the length body 1, and more preferably, the winding torque of the mainspring 21 is set to be larger. 3' indicates a flange provided on the outer periphery of the winding frame, which is provided to regulate the widthwise position of the elongated body that tends to unravel naturally within the case due to the repulsive force.

Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a protrusion 32 on the inner surface of the case 30 at the outermost portion that can come into contact with the length body to adjust the frictional force with the length body. With this structure, the winding torque of the mainspring 21, the counter force and the frictional force can be correlated with each other and balanced so that the length body 1 is stopped at an appropriate amount of withdrawal. 33 is a brake that prevents the elongated body 1 from being automatically extended or retracted when either one of the torques prevails.

This consists of a brake shoe 34 that suppresses the outermost body and provides frictional resistance, a spring 35 that is the driving force, and a fulcrum 36.
has. Note that the winding opening 37 of the case 30 has a curved plate portion 2.
A guide portion 37a may be provided to assist in flattening. In addition, in the length body 11 illustrated in FIG. 5, the flat plate 13
It is also possible to impart a curvature along the width direction to the length body 11 so that it has a flat plate shape when the length body 11 is pulled out.

When adopting a configuration in which the separate curved plate part 12 and the flat plate part 13 are integrally connected, the two parts are partially connected in a manner that can absorb the deviation caused by the difference in the circumferential length of the two overlapping parts. to be joined by welding or rivets, etc. A locking means 40 is provided at the draw-out end of the upright tape measure having the above-described configuration.

This locking means 40 is for locking the drawn-out ends of the length bodies 1, 11, and uses a hook, a magnet, or the like as illustrated in FIG. The combination of this locking means 40 and the upright feature of the tape measure of the present invention makes it useful as a telescoping hand tool. With the above-described structure, the present invention maintains its straight shape even when the amount of stretching becomes large, so it can be used to measure distances several meters apart or at depths of water, which were impossible with conventional tape measures. Measurements can be carried out by one person.

The upright measuring tape of the present invention has measuring tapes 1 and 11 having a thickness of 0, for example.
．． 05 order, made of stainless steel with a width of 30 to 50T0t, and when the radius of curvature of the curved plate parts 2 and 12 is 6R, it maintains the straight shape even when pulled out for the length ξ, and does not break on the way even when it reaches the horizontal position. Demonstrate.

Since the upright tape measure of the present invention has the above-mentioned contents, it can maintain its straightness even if the drawn amount is increased compared to conventional tape measures, and has the effect of significantly increasing its utility value.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of an upright tape measure of the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 4 are sectional views showing the cross-sectional shape of the tape measure in the width direction, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tape measure in the width direction. A perspective view showing another embodiment, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the roll forming process of the measuring body, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the tape measure device, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 7, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a locking means. 1, 11... ulnar body, 2, 12... curved plate part,
3, 13... Flat plate part, 20... Winding frame, 2
1... Spring, 30... Tape measure case.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An elongated body that integrally includes a curved plate portion and a flat plate portion that maintain an arc shape of a semicircle or more when no external force is applied, and a measurement scale is provided on the flat plate portion. , an upright tape measure characterized in that the measure body is wound up using a winding means and can be freely drawn out. 2. An upright measuring tape according to claim 1, wherein the measuring tape has a curved plate part integrally formed on one longitudinal side of the flat plate part. 3. An upright measuring tape according to claim 1, wherein the measuring tape has a curved plate part integrally connected to the longitudinal center of the flat plate part.